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Using artificial intelligence to advance how we live, work and play >>

MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2022

DEAN MICHAEL REID EDITOR MICHAEL SPEAR DESIGNER JEREMEY CLARK CONTRIBUTING WRITER MANNY REA Performance Magazine is also available online at: HHP.UFL.EDU Send letters for the editor to: Performance Magazine P.O. Box 118200 Gainesville, FL 32611-8200 Or visit us online at... hhp.ufl.edu/communications

INSIDE COVER: Students in the new Doctor of Athletic Training program, the first residential athletic training doctorate in the country, demonstrate proper cardiac evaluation. To learn more about the program and take a tour of the athletic training facilities, visit: hhp.ufl.edu/ athletictraining.

HHP DEPARTMENTS APK – Applied Physiology & Kinesiology HEB – Health Education & Behavior SPM – Sport Management THEM – Tourism Hospitality & Event Management

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CONTENTS 4

Dean’s Letter

Gator Good

Feature Section

Faculty Research

Alumni Profiles

Student Spotlight

HHP Impact Report

Class Notes

ABOUT THIS ISSUE

HHP MAKING A DIFFERENCE

11.......... AI IN APK 12.......... ETHICS IN AI 14.......... SPORTS AND AI 16.......... AI AND HOSPITALITY

20.......... RACECAR ATHLETES 22.......... NFL FAN REACTIONS 24.......... OVERTOURISM IN FL

26..........BRIAN COOK 28..........ALEXANDRA RODRIGUEZ

A QUICK LOOK AT HHP STUDENTS

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from the dean

“

The HHP community is setting new standards for educational excellence and leading innovative research that will advance how we live, work and play.

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This is an exciting time for the College of Health and Human Performance (HHP). Our faculty and staff are exceeding expectations of the University of Florida, a top five public university. The HHP community is setting new standards for educational excellence and leading innovative research that will advance how we live, work and play. This issue of Performance focuses on artificial intelligence (AI), a new strategic priority for the University of Florida. The university is integrating AI into every aspect of education and is dramatically expanding AI-related research. To make this possible, the university has partnered with Nvidia, an industry leader in AI technology, to develop the most efficient university supercomputer in the world. The university’s AI initiative is empowering HHP faculty and students to drive change and make new discoveries. In this issue, you will learn about exciting AI applications that include... • utilizing AI to help diagnose and treat diseases, • enhancing performance in sports with machine learning, • creating new opportunities in tourism through robotics, and • evaluating the ethical and equitable use of this new technology. And this is just the beginning! In the future, we plan to share more developments in AI. New faculty with AI expertise will be joining the college and AI is being incorporated into innovative academic programs. AI is one more way HHP is supporting the university’s drive for preeminence. It’s great to be a Florida Gator!

Michael Reid Dean

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gator good

COLLEGE OF HHP FACULTY, STAFF AND STUDENTS… MOVING THE WORLD FORWARD.

New faculty and staff join HHP

This year, the college welcomed new faculty and staff across the college: FACULTY • Max Adolphs, Ph.D., Instructional Assistant Professor, APK; Ph.D.in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Indiana University, Indianapolis, 2019; Prior to HHP: Franklin College, Indiana • Oscar (Hengxuan) Chi, Assistant Professor, THEM; Ph.D. in Business Administration, Washington State University, 2021 • Gidon Jakar, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, SPM; Ph.D.s in Sport Management, University of Michigan, 2020; Geography and Urban Studies, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 2020 • Yao-Chin Wang, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, THEM; Ph.D. in Hospitality Administration, Oklahoma State University, 2015; Prior to HHP: University of Arkansas STAFF • Melissa Bates, Research Coordinator, HEB

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• Bobbi Cabaret, Academic Advisor, THEM • Crosman Cruz, Research Engineer, APK • Johnathan Hancock, Academic Advisor II, APK • Tamara Herchel, Coordinator for Career Development and Industry Engagement, Dean’s Office • Shelley Lyle, Adjunct Lecturer and Career Engagement and Outreach Coordinator, SPM • Melinda Rajoria, Research Coordinator, HEB • Kristin Theus, Executive Assistant I, Dean’s Office • Kayla Tibbetts, Research Administrator, Dean’s Office • Alex Turner, Administrative Specialist II, APK Not pictured: • Wendy Anderson, Administrative Support Assistant III, HEB • Kathleen Langbehn, Research Coordinator ll, HEB

HHP MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Congratulations HHP Summer Olympians. HHP

has a rich history of participating in the Olympics. This history is no surprise given the Gators’ prowess in athletics and the college’s historical focus on sport and physical activity. Congratulations to our outstanding college students and alumni who made us proud in Tokyo this summer: • Yanis David (BSHE ’20), track and field, representing France: 11th (women’s long jump) • Mark Kolozsvary (senior in health education & behavior), baseball: silver (catcher) • Genevieve LaCaze Gregson (BSAPK ’12), track and field, representing Australia: (3,000-meter steeplechase)

• Taylor Manson (BSHE '21), track and field: bronze (mixed 4x400meter relay) • Kieran Smith (Senior in applied physiology & kinesiology), swimming: bronze (400-meter freestyle); 4th (4x200meter freestyle); 6th (200-meter freestyle) • Benny Vaughn (BSHE ’85), Massage Therapist and Athletic Trainer. Also participated in Atlanta 1996, Athens 2004, Beijing 2008 and London 2012 In addition, Douglas J. Casa, Ph.D., MSESS ’93, CEO of the Korey Stringer at University of Connecticut served on a special IOC committee focused on heat issues in preparation for the Tokyo Games. Kyriaki Kaplanidou, Ph.D., professor in sport management,

is a researcher for the IOC examining the impact and legacy on host communities. Paula Welch, Ed.D., professor emerita, researches Olympics and sport history, serves as treasurer of the U.S. Olympic Endowment, and has previously served in leadership roles for the U.S. Olympic Committee. Steve Mesler, BSESS ’00, was the only Gator alumnus winter olympian to metal, earning Gold, in the 2010 Vancouver Games, in the four-man bobsled, until Erin Jackson, a 2015 engineering alumnae, joined him this year, winning Gold in the 500-meter women’s speed skating in Beijing. >> For additional HHP Olympic ties, visit go.ufl.edu/hhpolympians.

A SPECIAL THANKS Pete Calamore and Mike Wrenne from HHP’s computing services team were instrumental in keeping faculty and staff connected to campus throughout COVID-19.

We’re grateful to HHP’s Building Services team members for keeping our building clean and safe throughout COVID-19. Pictured left to right: Christopher Harvey, Beverly Hudson, Karla Ice, Gabriel Sellers, Vilma Hodge, Ricky Moberly and Mael Stewart. Not pictured: Johnnie Brown and Edna Taplis.

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HHP MAKING A DIFFERENCE

HHP Researchers Awarded $8M in 2021. In fiscal year 2021, college

Employees across campus participate in the campaign and compete every fall to raise money for numerous charities serving the region including the United Way of North Central Florida, Community Health Charities of Florida and other independent agencies.

UF Health Education & Behavior Graduates Excel on National Exam. Graduates in the Department

FACULTY HONORS

researchers earned $8 million in awards, adding to the university’s secondhighest amount ever. In addition, faculty increased the number of proposals submitted by 17 percent last year.

of Health Education & Behavior who sat for the 2020 Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) Exam have exceeded the national passage rate, scoring nearly 24 percent higher than the national average. Congratulations to these test takers for their superb results!

It’s Great to Be a Florida Gator — Thank You Donors. UF raised an

all-time record $562 million last fiscal year, as the university nears the end of its eight-year Go Greater campaign. In HHP, nearly 1,000 donors made gifts totaling more than $2.2 million including a first endowed chair position and 57 estate and planned gifts toward our goal of 75 gifts in honor of the college’s 75th anniversary. Gifts from alumni and friends will enable the university to continue its climb as one of the nation’s best public universities. It marks the third consecutive year that giving has surpassed $500 million.

College Breaks UF Campaign for Charities Giving Record Two Years In a Row. Faculty and staff in

the college broke records during the annual UF Campaign for Charities giving campaign for the second year in a row. As a college, faculty and staff raised more than $15,000 with 33 percent of faculty and staff participating.

Congratulations to Amy Mobley, Ph.D., associate professor and graduate program coordinator in the Department of Health Education & Behavior, for earning the Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior (SNEB) 2021 Nutrition Education Research Award. The American Association of Publishers recently awarded Andrei Kirilenko, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management at the University of Florida College of Health & Human Performance, together with a team of global experts, with the Professional and Scholarly Excellence (PROSE) Award in the Environmental Science category for the sixth edition of “Global Environmental Outlook – GEO-6: Healthy Planet, Healthy People.”

FACULTY RESEARCH

Jalie Tucker, Ph.D., MPH, professor in health education & behavior, was awarded a $2.1M grant to evaluate a brief behavioral economic intervention to reduce risky drinking among early adults recruited from disadvantaged communities. Researchers across UF, including David Vaillancourt, Ph.D., chair

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and professor in applied physiology & kinesiology were recently rewarded a $1.1M grant from the National Institutes of Health to focus on AI-powered medical research, specifically for Parkinson’s disease. Vaillancourt also co-authored a study featured on the cover of August’s edition of the journal "Science Translational Medicine" that found ritonavir, an FDA-approved medication to treat HIV, restored multiple brain abnormalities in a mouse model of a genetic form of dystonia.

STUDENT NEWS

Doctor of athletic training (DAT) student and Santa Fe High School volleyball athletic trainer Melissa Gutheil helped lead the team to their first Florida State Championship. Go, Raiders! Two Ph.D. students in applied physiology & kinesiology were awarded American Heart Association Fellowships — Congratulations to Raymond Kim, mentored by Terence Ryan, Ph.D., assistant professor; and Ryan Montalvo, mentored by Ashley Smuder, Ph.D., assistant professor. Jamie Zeldman (pictured), a Ph.D. student in health education & behavior, was awarded first place in the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing infographic contest as part of a the Philosophy and Principles of Health Education course taught by Kim Holton, Ph.D., instructional assistant professor.

Research Focuses on Exercise as a Prescription in Newest College Facility

by Manny Rea

Wedged between Yon Hall North and South, the new Center for Exercise Science Cardiovascular Training and Rehabilitation facility will offer researchers a dedicated space for conducting exercise interventions. Demetra Christou, Ph.D., an associate professor in the Department of Applied Physiology & Kinesiology and the director of the Integrative Cardiovascular Physiology Lab, is conducting a clinical trial in 45 women who have recently been diagnosed with breast cancer and are scheduled to receive chemotherapy. The study is funded by the National Institutes of Health and is evaluating all-extremity exercise as a novel strategy for mitigating cardiovascular toxicity during breast cancer chemotherapy. “Some of the agents that are used during chemotherapy can cause cardiovascular damage,” Christou said. The new facility will allow her to complete her clinical trial to test whether all-extremity exercise during 12 weeks of breast cancer chemotherapy is feasible, better tolerated and more effective in

protecting against cardiovascular dysfunction than treadmill exercise. Christou hopes the space will also help other Center for Exercise Science investigators with their exercise studies and will promote collaborations within the college and the university. “We’re very excited to have this dedicated space because it wouldn’t be possible to perform large exercise studies in the limited space that we had,” Christou said. Christou is also serving as a coinvestigator on a phase 3 multi-site clinical research trial conducted across a large number of sites in the U.S. and Canada. This trial in individuals with Parkinson’s disease is funded by the National Institutes of Health and is led by Daniel Corcos, Ph.D., a professor of physical therapy and human movement at Northwestern University Feinberg School of

Medicine. Other University of Florida co-investigators include David Vaillancourt, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology and Adolfo Ramirez-Zamora, M.D., associate professor of Neurology. This multi-site clinical trial will investigate whether exercising at a high- or moderate-intensity is more effective in slowing Parkinson's disease progression. Participants recruited at the University of Florida will complete exercise training at the new facility. Christou believes the space will be beneficial to not just her studies in individuals with breast cancer and Parkinson’s disease, but also studies in other clinical and healthy populations. “That’s the goal,” she said. “To use exercise to prevent disease, and improve health and quality of life.”

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TRANSFO the future T

he word “artificial intelligence” used to conjure up images of science fiction. Now the technology represents a reality for the way we conduct business, research and even leisure. The University of Florida is making AI the centerpiece of a major, long-term initiative. AI is the ability of computers to do tasks that previously required human judgment. The university announced a partnership with software company Nvidia to invest into the tech which manifested into the HiPerGator AI, the country’s most powerful university-owned supercomputer. This supercomputer enables college researchers from across the state to analyze swaths of data. More recently, UF announced the Artificial Intelligence Academic Initiative Center which will help coordinate programs in teaching about the uses of AI for professors and students across all curricula. UF is the first university to integrate the technology in this way and is hoping to create a more AI-equipped workforce for the future. In HHP, researchers have begun to immerse their disciplines in the realm of AI as a powerful tool to process their data. Whether analyzing minor league baseball career trajectories or the organization of the human brain, AI has helped realize new possibilities in how far the college can take its research. But professors have also begun to explore the ethical considerations of AI research and why it is key to provide equitable AI access and education to underrepresented populations.

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LEARN MORE ABOUT THE

ORMING THROUGH AI

by Manny Rea

Exploring AI in APK As AI continues to uproot approaches to research throughout all fields of study, the Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology (APK) is incorporating the technology into their labs. Over the last several years, APK faculty have begun to collaborate and train students in using AI as a powerful computational tool, said David Vaillancourt, Ph.D., professor and chair. “AI provides a set of computational tools that allow predictions of an outcome with multiple inputs,” Vaillancourt said. “In the nervous system for example, there are many neurons in the brain and spinal cord that are coordinated for the simplest movement.” An example of this is the research of Steve Coombes, Ph.D., associate professor in the department. His work emphasizes movement and pain in neuroscience and he co-authored a 2021 study looking at the organization of the brain using machine learning, or the ability of AI to learn and improve through data. What he and his coauthors found was that a multitude of regions on the brain lead to the control of body parts that act out our daily functions. “The Coombes lab is able to measure the nervous system using electrical and imaging technologies and then leverage powerful AI methods to predict specific movement-based outcomes,”

IMPACT OF AI IN HHP >>

Vaillancourt added. “These tools allow us to combine many variables to predict an outcome with far greater reliability than previous statistical methods.” In another effort to rope in the power of AI, the department has recently welcomed assistant professor Diego Guarín, Ph.D. Guarín has a background in computational biomechanics and uses AI to study movement and facial expressions. “He [Guarín] is using new methods that measure movement from a video that is captured from most any device such as an iPhone and then digitizes this movement,” Vaillancourt said. “This approach can measure kinematics of movement [the motion of points] without reflective markers and multiple camera systems as has been done in the past.” AI tools are then applied to quantify those movements and to study impairments such as Parkinson’s disease. This technology has potential for improving neurological evaluations in future telemedicine, Vaillancourt said. Vaillancourt’s own research into Parkinson’s disease has used AI to assist in predicting the type of Parkinsonism in people across the U.S. and Canada. Brain MRIs of 315 patients with Parkinson’s disease from 21 study sites will be diagnosed by a physician and then compared with an AI-produced diagnosis. Patients will be followed up 18 months later to confirm the diagnosis. The study is expected to wrap up in 2023.

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The rapid emergence of artificial intelligence has confronted all of UF’s colleges with a new era of learning. But how can students and faculty stay on the same page about the ways the technology will affect their fields of study?

elores James, Ph.D., is an associate professor in the Department of Health Education & Behavior as well as a member of the UF Teaching Innovations Committee.

inform how the body functions. ELSI research dealt with how learning the roots of disease and health issues may cause discrimination against individuals who may have that information encoded.

As a committee branched from the UF Center for Teaching Excellence, the group is dedicated to finding new approaches toward higher education on campus. Their efforts stem from the input of universitywide faculty, instructional designers and administrators. They’re now making their dive into AI concepts — something James believes all incoming students will come equipped with in the next few years.

“I was initially intimidated by the coding, mapping, and the nitty gritty biological data,” James recalled about the Human Genome Project. But her look into ELSI research showed how science can mean more than just information. The social implications of its use is something anyone can recognize and learn.

“The freshman class in four years will not look the same as the freshman class of today,” she forecasts. “They will come in with this AI knowledge from high school, middle school and even elementary school.” James hopes to keep her fellow faculty up to speed on understanding an often daunting concept. She faced the same feelings and challenges as a UF doctoral student working on the Ethical, Legal and Social Implications (ELSI) research of the Human Genome Project grant sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy. Before the DNA mapping and sequencing of the Human Genome Project began, researchers from UF College of Medicine and Morehouse School of Medicine examined the potential societal impact of the project. The famous project aimed to lay out the base pairs that make up human DNA and furthermore the exact genetic sequences that

“Technology and science are not necessarily value-neutral because people make the decision of what questions to ask, how to use the data, and what policies or laws should be instituted,” James said. She offered some example questions exposed by the project: Who funds this research? What is their interest in it? Which groups will be impacted? Lastly, will it be weaponized against certain groups?

its algorithm, called Pattern, for determining crime recidivism of prisoners often incorrectly predicted the risks of Black, Hispanic and Asian inmates. Last year, tech companies including Microsoft and Amazon prohibited law enforcement from using their facial recognition services as the tech could falsely classify the gender and darker skin of individuals, creating room for abuse by police on minority groups. This is why the Teaching Innovation Committee is working on bridging the AI knowledge gap for faculty and students regardless of their technological literacy. “You [students] are digital natives,” James explained. “Us faculty members, we are digital immigrants. There is a multigenerational function to tech and AI, and we’re going to need each other.” The goal is to make faculty comfortable with discussing AI topics and how it fits into their areas of study.

The ability to determine one’s genetic information could lead groups in positions of power to deepen the health disparities of disenfranchised people. The burgeoning of AI in all fields is that same social realization. Through the internet, AI use can discriminate when there is lack of representation of minority groups in the data.

Recently, the committee sent a university-wide survey to faculty asking about their familiarity with AI. The committee is in the process of creating an online AI pressbook that will help faculty, graduate students, and post-docs to have a better understanding of AI and how to incorporate building blocks into their curricula.

Whether learning racist and coded language or targeted bullying at girls with eating disorders, the tech must be properly guided to avoid these pitfalls that have made recent news headlines. For example, the U.S. Department of Justice discovered

Politics and policies will soon be steeped in AI, and the first step is keeping educators informed about how it will affect their studies.

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Investigating the Ethics of AI by Manny Rea

“Technology and science are not necessarily value-neutral because people make the decision of what questions to ask, how to use the data, and what policies or laws should be instituted,”

THE FUTURE THROUGH AI

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E T T A B U

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he major league dream is more elusive than it may seem: about 0.5% of high school baseball players ever make it to the MLB, according to Bleacher Report. Yet despite the odds, players at all lower levels continue to strive for the show. Chris McLeod, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Sport Management, is working to update player’s career expectations as they progress through the minor league farm system.

Minor leaguers are often subjected to low pay and limited housing. But their love for the game and aspirations for Major League Baseball compels them to play through these conditions. McLeod also advises the More Than Baseball organization, a group dedicated to providing these players with better housing, food and equipment.

league players from the Fair Labors Standards Act which would provide them with a minimum wage, overtime or pay during spring training.

McLeod first delved into minor league baseball advocacy after hearing about the “Save America’s Pastime Act” passed in 2018. As part of a larger spending bill, it quietly allowed the MLB to exempt minor

The organization counsels minor leaguers on career goals after baseball, something McLeod has worked to validate with his recent study: Career expectations

Seeing the purposeful oversight the MLB made on the smallest of ballplayers, McLeod turned his research to help minor leaguers. “I decided that it was unfair and not right,” he said. “And so I decided to support More Than Baseball’s mission.”

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and optimistic updating biases in minor league baseball players. McLeod and his colleague David Pifer, Ph.D., assistant professor in the College of Education at Florida State University, previously developed a machine learning algorithm based on minor league player performance and progression data from 2003 to 2011 to create predictions. These predictions can then be personalized to current players’ performances and create a career tree showing whether they advance in baseball or drop out within the next few seasons. He wanted to apply this algorithm to real-time players to distinguish how they view their chances of making it big and how they would update their expectations after learning of data-driven probabilities. These updates would better ground their expectations of a baseball career and allow them to make better job, school and family decisions should the sport not work out, McLeod said. For this study, he took the algorithm and piloted it on five college baseball players before turning it toward 21 minor league players. Through Zoom interviews, McLeod

asked the players to devise their own career trees before showing them a personalized machine-learned tree. The comparisons came up with three distinctions: most players overestimate their chances of making it to the MLB, overestimate the probability that they're going to advance in any given year and underestimate their chances of being out of the sport. Interviewees were then asked to update their trees based off the newly given information. When presented with optimistic information, participants were likely to update their tree. However, they were less likely to update when presented with pessimistic information. Even though the interviews slightly altered what they expected to happen with their careers, not a single player wavered on their MLB aspirations, or what they hoped to achieve. “When I started this project, I was hoping that this type of career tree would help athletes update their expectations,” McLeod said. “But I didn't want it to get in the way of their dreams. What we found is that it didn’t do too much of either.” Some players did end up with the takeaway that a career plan B is necessary, and McLeod hopes to plant this seed with others in future research. Unrealistic optimism was a common thread among players who kept their chances high despite being served pessimistic information. Most athletes believe their perceived hard work and skill puts them over their competitors. This is despite numbers showing how low of a chance most of them will advance in their sport, McLeod said. He wants to next investigate if unrealistic optimism is beneficial to athletes in the long run. “If it's true, this leads us to a really complicated paradox,” he said. “Because that means that in order to make it you have to be unrealistically optimistic about your chances.” He’s also seen how optimism’s power allows players to tolerate tough working conditions and minimal pay. Regardless of its impact, McLeod plans to continue applying career trees to minor league players so that they can be better informed about life outside the baseball diamond.

THE FUTURE THROUGH AI

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AI and Robots in Hospitality are Put to the Test

he future of artificially intelligent service is plodding along on a few wheels and standing no taller than a wastebasket. Robots are here to serve customers in high-touch industries such as hospitality. From supplying towels and toiletries to booking rooms, AI is a new player in the era of social distancing. But some customers and businesses are still hesitant about the technology. Oscar (Hengxuan) Chi, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Tourism, Hospitality & Event Management, has worked to capture the factors of consumer acceptance toward social service robots in places like hotel lobbies and restaurant floors. Social service robots equip AI: a technology that allows a system to do human tasks by understanding and learning. By having these abilities, the robots are able to function as a mini-concierge or receptionist serving on its own. They can act in the place of a human employee using social skills like empathy to relate to the customer. The growing trend of robots in hotels and restaurants came as a sign of the times with the COVID-19 pandemic triggering less human contact and a thinning labor supply. Even just four years ago, others in his field hadn’t taken the use of robotics completely seriously, Chi said. Now, it’s commanding the service industry landscape. As a recent endeavor for industry members of hospitality and tourism, the relationship between customer and AI has yet to be standardized. Previous studies have shown that some humans still feel reluctant to use social service robots. Factors have included the varying demographics of users such as age as well as the design of the robots. For example, their anthropomorphism, or human-like characteristics, can make or break the relationship.

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A majority of customers welcome the accuracy and consistency a robot can provide, but many are still not quite yet familiar with the technology With this past research compiled, Chi helped create and validate a scale to measure consumers’ certainty in these AI robots for service delivery. Named the “social service robot interaction trust” (SSRIT), the scale draws on human-computer interaction models outlined since the ’00s. These former frameworks show the importance of the dimensions between man and machine: system design, user capability and task and context of the interaction. All are tied to trust.

narrow down important indicators and assert external validity of the SSRIT scale for real-life application.

“Based on technology research, we found that trust is actually the primary factor that leads a person or a group of people to use technology devices,” Chi said.

He hopes his scale will help businesses realize the factors that they could tackle in marketing robots to their customers. The pandemic’s negative effect on tourism and travel overall offered these types of businesses a chance to test out the tech without financial drawbacks. Yet they are still reluctant to invest money into unrefined machines that may peel back the human face to their services, he said.

But studies have shown social robots are seen as more than just a computer with wheels; a customers’ trust in AI robots is close to the trust in another human. The dimensions further break down into indicators such as anthropomorphism, robot-service fit, or how capable customers think the robot is to do small and big tasks, and familiarity, or how understanding a customer may be about robots already. Chi also approached the study by differentiating between functional and hedonic values in social service robots. Functional values refer to accomplishing a necessary service while hedonic values are for playful entertainment or pleasure. Having a robot for hedonic purposes can be a good novelty, but the appeal tends to wear off as evidenced by the Japanese Henn na Hotel that fired more than half of its robotic staff in 2019.

His work confirmed that the propensity of customers to trust AI social service robots relies on a plethora of factors. A majority of customers are welcoming to the accuracy and consistency a robot can provide, but many are still not quite yet familiar with the technology growing steadily in hotels and restaurants, Chi said.

But Chi believes research should go into finding the right balance of the human and technology component. He sees anthropomorphism as the next step in creating more acceptance of AI workers while freeing up human workers to put more time into other services. “This is the industry where people want to seek humanity,” he said.

“In consumer behavior we know that when looking for fun and entertainment, you really won’t last long,” Chi said. To test his newly developed scale, Chi ran several rounds of human interviews and surveys. An initial group of 14 people were asked to imagine and describe how they would react to an AI service robot. They then were asked to determine what factors may lead to trust or distrust in the interaction. Then three large datasets of more than 300 participants responded to a survey about robots in hotel services. The sample sizes helped

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AI ACROSS THE CURRICULUM by Manny Rea

Consider a gift to support AI initiatives in the College of Health and Human Performance.

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This spring, UF announced the creation of the Artificial Intelligence Academic Initiative Center led by David Reed, associate provost for strategic initiatives. The new center will be the campus focal point for academic activity related to AI and data science, including the coordination and development of programs and certificates, collaborations across faculty and students, organization of seminars and conferences, as well as industry and nonprofit partnerships. This fall, the Department of Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management launched two certificates for UF students focused on AI and data analytics. The certificates, one for graduate students and the other for undergraduate students, include a combination of coursework including AI Revolutions and Applications; Smart Cities, Attractions and Theme Parks; GIS and Spatial Analysis for Tourism and Social Data; and Data Mining with Social Data. Students will have the opportunity to gain specialized knowledge and practice in artificial intelligence trends,

analytic skills, machine learning concepts, technology applications, opportunities, and challenges in industries. The Department of Applied Physiology & Kinesiology (APK) has infused AI into their master’s degree curriculum, teaching its graduate students how to make predictions using large datasets. The datasets they’re using? Answer: Major League Baseball pitching statistics. By loading the datasets into HiPerGator, the most powerful university-owned supercomputer in the U.S., students can enter details of a pitch, like velocity or release spin rate, to make a determination of the pitch’s likely outcome. The question they are seeking to solve is, “what makes an ideal pitcher?” Students completing this coursework have gone on to work for professional cycling teams, college athletic programs and the NFL in the areas of sport sciences.

Ph.D., chair and professor in APK, and Dawn Bowers, Ph.D., professor in the College of Public Health & Health Professions. The summer workshop invited graduate students in biomedical engineering, neurosciences, clinical psychology, and applied physiology and kinesiology to learn more about the fundamentals and applications of AI and machine learning. AI Professors When the AI initiative kicked off in 2020, it included a commitment from UF to hire 100 more faculty across disciplines who weave AI into their teaching and research. This hiring added an additional two faculty members to the college, as well as multiple new faculty that also include AI expertise. Stay tuned in future editions to learn about their research and teaching.

In addition, a three-week AI workshop series for graduate students was funded by an institutional training grant (T32) managed by David Vaillancourt,

visit go.ufl.edu/hhpai

THE FUTURE THROUGH AI

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A DRIVING FORCE by Manny Rea

nder the helmet visor and fire suit lies an athlete with a special set of skills and circumstances. Yet sports fans often underestimate the work racecar drivers put in. For example, NASCAR and Formula 1 racers partake in competition while facing invisible trials: loads of g-force, heat stress and carbon monoxide exposure. Because of the limited literature and research out there on the auto racing industry, drivers are often shelved as lesser athletes when compared with the more visually evident big four sports. But behind the steering wheel, drivers are enduring their own unique set of physical challenges. The mechanical strength of the racecar paired with the quirks and turns of racetracks make for its own needed athleticism. Researchers David Ferguson, Ph.D., and Michael Reid, Ph.D., are collaborating with the FastMD Racing Team to open the conversation of auto racing physiology; by exploring the conditions racers endure, their research is highlighting these underestimated athletes. Ferguson is an assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology at Michigan State University.

He studies early life nutrition’s effect on cardiorespiratory fitness but has also made the plunge into researching the relatively untapped physiological stressors of racecar drivers. Auto racing stands as one of the biggest spectator sports next to soccer. Unlike the latter which receives about 400 sports medicine papers published a year, racing has only had 30 ever — half of which Ferguson has contributed to. He’s loved cars for as long as he can remember, but the research aspect didn’t come into play until about 15 years ago. Ferguson witnessed a Las Vegas racer suffer from heat illness on the track leading the driver to see triple; his finishing position at fourth suffered because of the heat stress. “There’s all this engineering and technology that goes into the car,” Ferguson said. “Is anyone looking at the driver?” Reid is the dean of the College of Health & Human Performance and professor in applied physiology and kinesiology at the University of Florida. His interest in the sport began as a kid racing slot cars before progressing to time and distance rallies in high school. He would take this devotion further as an autocross

racer in college, a competition in which racers test their handling skills on tightly wound courses. He’s since taken part in High Performance Driver Education (HPDE) in which enthusiasts work to improve car control skills and learn to drive at speed safely. “It has given me the opportunity to experience first-hand the challenges of driving tracks like Daytona, Sebring, Road Atlanta, Mid-Ohio, and the Nürburgring,” Reid said. Reid and Ferguson met while Reid was a visiting professor at Texas A&M. They both would go on to serve on the Motorsports Task Force for the American College of Sports Medicine and are both members of the International Council of Motorsport Science. Their research collaboration, however, began only last year. Now they’re out to provide knowledge that represents the physicality involved in racing. “The data makes it very clear that fatigue predisposes drivers to making mistakes, to having wrecks and to being hurt,” Reid said. The research is also vital to the safety of amateur drivers who race as a hobby on the weekends but reach the same speeds and dangers

Read the full story, and watch a video from the Motul Petit Le Mans >>

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FA CU LTY R E S E A R C H

Because of the limited literature and research on the auto racing industry, racecar drivers are often regarded as lesser athletes in comparison to those in the big four sports. But behind the steering wheel, drivers are enduring their own unique set of physical challenges.

as professionals, he emphasized. “Those folks, they don’t have their own track doctor,” Reid said. “They don’t have individual fitness trainers, they don’t have people constantly monitoring them.” But racers can also expect to up their game based on the findings — even a second per lap makes all the difference. “Understanding the factors that limit performance is ultimately going to improve the performance of the drivers and more importantly keep them safer,” Reid said. Reid and Ferguson had this goal in mind and brought it out to the track for the Motul Petit Le Mans sports car endurance race in Braselton, Georgia on Nov. 13. Partnering with the FastMD Racing team from Brooksville, Florida, the duo was able to monitor physiological data of three racers over 36 hours. The Motul Petit Le Mans is a 10hour race that sees teams alternate between three drivers in about 45-minute intervals. The drivers perform 394 laps for a total of about 1,000 miles on the Road Atlanta course. As competitors in the IMSA SportsCar Championship, FastMD Racing finished fourth in their Le Mans Prototype 3 car class and offered invaluable data to the researchers.

go.ufl.edu/drivingforce

Professional drivers James Vance, Max Hanratty and Todd Archer were fitted with high-end sportswear with monitors originally developed for F1 racing. The monitor fits under the driver’s fireproof undershirt and measures biometrics such as heart and breathing rates. And just like in all other human research, Ferguson and Reid made sure to obtain informed consent from each of the racers. “I am ecstatic to understand the happenings of my body whilst driving the car but even more so excited to continue working side by side with Dean Reid and the incredible folks at UF,” Vance said. “We see the benefits and the big picture of this program, and we are so grateful to be a part of it.” Reid enjoyed the ins and outs of the pit crew perspective while at the event. He recalled the cold of that night forcing spectators and team members alike to bundle up in layers of jackets and hats. But when

the racers stepped out of the car to switch with the next driver, their faces were drenched in sweat. Much of that heat is generated from the car’s roaring engine. “If the heat management is not well thought out, drivers have said that they cannot keep their foot on the floor,” he said. “It’s like putting your foot on a frying pan.” Months later, the researchers are working on reporting the data to FastMD Racing and its drivers. This initial work will contribute to a databank of more biometrics just as larger organizations like NASCAR are focusing on driver safety and heat stress. “Driver science is an emerging field,” Reid said. “Biometrics are going to provide an increasingly important source of information for the motorsports industry and for driver athletes in particular.”

logy o n h c e g and t son said. n i r e e Fergu iver?” engin ,” s r i a h t c l l e r ’s a o th t the d a “There hat goes int g n i t e look n o y n “Is a H E A LTH & H U M A N P E R F O R M A N C E | S U M M E R 2 0 2 2

ust one kneel at a preseason NFL game in 2016 shook the core of the sports world. Colin Kaepernick’s protest against racial inequality opened the conversation once again to activism on and off the field. It also forced sports leagues like the NFL to reconcile with their own credibility in the eyes of fans as they navigated how to handle their athlete’s advocacy.

A Political Football by Manny Rea

With a few years of retrospection on the movement, Yonghwan Chang, Ph.D., assistant professor in sport management, and Akira Asada, MSSPM '14, Ph.D. '17, assistant professor in sport management at Texas Tech University, constructed a crisis communication analysis of the NFL. Chang’s previous work has monitored the paradoxical effects of sports fans’ memory bias. He has worked to prove that sometimes negative publicity can turn into positive information, especially for younger fans. However, his first look into athlete activism is preceded by little prior research in the field. Kaepernick’s kneeling during the U.S. national anthem at San Francisco 49’ers football games sparked debate

over the intersection of political speech and sporting events. Political figures, such as then Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, chimed in, influencing the perception of the league’s fans. “It was controversial,” Chang said. “From one side it was perceived positively and on the other hand many people and the NFL first said it was an unfavorable action. But they changed their official attitude. That was my motivation to cover this social phenomenon as part of my job as a researcher.” The #TakeAKnee movement spread to more NFL teams and other sports as a sign of solidarity against police brutality and racial inequality against people of color and Black Americans. Using the backdrop of Super

Sport Management Research Focuses on NFL Fan Reactions and Perceptions

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“The NFL’s handling of the #TakeAKnee movement played an important role in maintaining the organization’s credibility and communication effectiveness.”

Bowl LII in 2018 as the peak of the protest, Chang and his colleagues tackled fans’ perceptions of the league’s credibility from their responses to crises. Chang surveyed 698 residents as part of a larger research project looking at the effects of Super Bowl LII on the Minneapolis–St. Paul metropolitan area, the host city. The researchers polled participants between January and February 2018, just after the NFL made blanket statements about athlete activism and before they promised to support community projects. Capturing fan reactions to the league’s initial response was critical to understanding how they would perceive Kaepernick’s actions, Chang said. The researchers analyzed all of the NFL’s response using the situational crisis communication theory (SCCT) which theorizes that a level of responsibility is placed on an organization because of any dilemma in turn affecting their reputation. It is then up to that organization to use the correct response strategy, whether it be denials, excuses, apologies or callbacks. His research also had to consider the concept of free riding which is the act of benefiting from the actions of others without sharing the cost, according to the study. The study’s results found that the NFL used diminishment and bolstering strategies such as

FA CU LTY R E S E A R C H

minimizing any faults and reaffirming their past efforts in combating racism in response to the protests. While its strategy elicited positive reactions from people with positive attitudes toward the movement, the league also damaged its credibility as others felt it was free riding; some found protesting players were risking more than the league was in terms of career and pay. “The NFL’s handling of the #TakeAKnee movement played an important role in maintaining the organization’s credibility and communication effectiveness,” the study reads. The research’s takeaway for all leagues: a consistent, comprehensive communication strategy is advised for both crises and other events (like a Super Bowl). Chang also believes college sports team organizations should put greater emphasis on their credibility more so than the NFL. As non-commercial based groups, they lack the conformity and pressure from stakeholders and sales that drive the actions of national football teams. However, all sports leagues would benefit from managing a consistent image based off their actions. He hopes further research acknowledges the criticisms he and his team made in analyzing the NFL’s reaction to athlete activism.

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In general, while residents understand the importance of tourists, they do not want to see further growth, and a significant percentage of residents want fewer tourists.

the rising tide

by Manny Rea

RESEARCHERS LOOK AT RESIDENT PERCEPTIONS OF OVERTOURISM IN FLORIDA

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FACULTY RESEARCH

Andrei Kirilenko, Ph.D., associate professor in tourism, hospitality and event management, remembers when a trip 25 years ago to Barcelona was a tranquil stay without crowds. Since then, droves of tourists have had the local government and citizens pushing back for space in their own city. He believes Florida is on the verge of that mismatch between residents and visitors.

lorida has stood as a hub for international and domestic tourism for decades through its offerings of theme parks and natural attractions. Cities such as Clearwater and Sarasota boast lush beaches while Tampa and Miami act as hubs of sports, arts and commerce. However, the years of incoming worldwide vacationers are starting to make locals feel burnt out despite the economic benefits they bring. Floridians are growing tired of the tourist congestion, a concept explored by Kirilenko in his recent research, “Detecting Early Signs of Overtourism: Bringing Together Indicators of Tourism Development With Data Fusion,” featured in the December issue of the Journal of Travel Research. Kirilenko’s work has dealt with a range of topics stretching from climate change to big data. Since joining the department 10 years ago, he’s also continued to look at the interconnectedness of tourism, the environment and social media. Florida is just one of many locations caught in that web. He previously collaborated with the Florida Department of Transportation to estimate tourist traffic flow; part of that report was informed by social media data across the state. This most recent Florida study aimed to determine the type of effects tourism has and how residents from four cities were reacting to it. Kirilenko partnered with four other researchers including Svetlana Stepchenkova, Ph.D., associate professor in tourism, hospitality and event management. His team had

one takeaway in mind for Florida tourist industry leaders: “Act early rather than later when it is already too late to change the public opinion,” he said. To find if Florida was facing early signs of the overtourism plaguing places such as Barcelona, his team applied a bottom-up and topdown measure of tourism’s impact utilizing data from federal and state agencies, tourism industry, social media, and a survey of Florida residents in key tourism areas. By combining these diverse perspectives, Kirilenko found that while Floridians appreciate the benefits that tourists and tourism industry bring to our state, there is also a growing concern with negative sides of overtourism. The top-down measure comprised social and economic indicators in the Panhandle, Orlando, Miami and St. Augustine to show how tourism had impacted local living. These four areas represented a variety of recreational opportunities such as theme parks, historic and beach destinations. Ultimately, the measures showed that where there was a greater number of hotel rooms and hotel reviews, there were positive impacts including greater employment rate, better educational opportunities and higher income. On the other hand, surveys sent to residents from the areas came back with mixed feelings. While 87 percent of respondents perceived tourism as a benefit to their homes, one third of the surveyed still wanted to see less of its presence.

“In general, while the residents of all areas understand the importance of tourists, they do not want to see further growth and a significant percentage of residents want fewer tourists,” the study reads. The opinions of their respondents also varied widely based on demographics. Females, younger people, and Black Floridians had the lowest opinions on how tourism benefits their area. To follow up on the stark differences found in this study, Kirilenko’s team reached out to tourism industry leaders in Florida to ask why they think these disparities exist. “It is extremely important for these leaders to inject their perspective of the industry into the research,” Kirilenko said. “Otherwise, you’re at risk of being in an ivory tower with no understanding of the implications or even the relevance of what you’re studying.” Conclusions included that younger adults are less inclined to see positives in benefits such as state tax exemptions which older adults recognize while Black Floridians are less inclined because they are often poorly represented by tourism advertising, the study reads. Kirilenko believes these revelations are just the start to tackling a rising issue for Florida. He also believes university researchers should be encouraged to study more about overtourism which would not only provide important data for the state but also for private businesses.

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meet

BRIAN COOK MSAPK ’06, Ph.D. ’10

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ALU M N I P R O F I L E

What drew you to your career? There are so many mixed and oftentimes false messages about the role of exercise, eating, and accepting one's body. It's clear that connection among exercise, eating, and health are much more complicated than what they may seem like on the surface. I like the challenge of having to see the bigger picture of health, evaluating and understanding how different aspects of health are adaptive with each other, and applying understanding of these interactions to help advance healthcare and improve people's lives.

What do you consider to be your greatest professional achievement (so far)? Developing and translating an original line of research into clinical practice that helps people. Estimates are that approximately 30 million people in the U.S. will suffer from an eating disorder at some point in their life. This prevalence is also increasing. About half of those people use exercise in a way that worsens their eating disorder. The consequences include reduced quality of life, severe comorbidities (e.g., anxiety, trauma, depression, etc.), physical impairments, increased risk for suicide and self harm, cardiac complications and death. When I got to UF I wanted to work on these issues. At that time (in 2003), there was very little research or effective clinical practices for individuals with eating disorders that use exercise. The work I began at HHP first identified a problem, began to understand the mechanisms of that problem, and over time I have translated this into clinical approaches and disseminated this line of research into practice. My greatest professional achievement has been seeing how this translation of research into practice has impacted lives. I'm incredibly humbled by clients that have pulled me aside before they discharge and tell me that this aspect of care is what they needed, what other treatment centers have not provided, and it has made the difference in saving their life.

What has been your greatest professional challenge? Changing attitudes, perceptions, and misunderstanding about the role of exercise in health. As this pertains to exercise in eating disorders treatment, the status quo has been to not allow any type of exercise or movement during treatment and often not even during recovery. This type of advice was born out of an abundance of caution and failed initial attempts at understanding how to treat exercise in eating disorders. I have published on how this is an ethical failure to continue to take such approaches despite advances in knowledge of the etiology of exercise in eating disorders and development of effective treatment approaches. I've seen a lot of change in the field over the years since I have been working on this problem. That change is encouraging, but it has been slow and challenging to change people's understanding of this problem.

How has your education at HHP helped you with your career? It has helped me to see aspects of health that I would not have understood had I taken other paths I was considering before deciding to attend HHP. I could not do what I do now without the foundation HHP provided me.

>> Brian Cook earned a master’s and doctorate degree in the Department of Applied Physiology & Kinesiology. His career includes serving in a leadership role at a nationwide eating disorder clinic focused on movement, research and outcomes. Read the full profile: go.ufl.edu/bcook Submit your own profile: go.ufl.edu/HHPprofile

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ME What are you currently working on? I am leading a vaccine confidence project on the UF campus. The project, "Work COVID Silly, Gators” is a multi-mural, interdisciplinary project to increase COVID-19 vaccine confidence amongst students. During the spring semester, the sites will also act as COVID-19 vaccination and education sites. Aside from my role as project lead, the team also includes mural curator Jenna Horner, muralists Cristi Lopez, Brittany Webber and Amy Lindroth, as well as UF Physician Dr. Ashleigh Wright. The two mural structures are slated to stay up through the semester and will have QR codes to guide students to an evaluation survey, CDC COVID vaccine safety and efficacy details, as well as a link to find local vaccination sites. My work through the Center for Arts in Medicine's Interdisciplinary Lab is what inspired me to develop this project. What really excites me about this project is its anchoring within public health as both the murals and overall research plan were designed with the “Theory of Planned Behavior” at the forefront.

Jenna Horner (left), mural curator, and Amy Lindroth, artist, pose next to Lindroth's mural.

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ALUMNI PROFILE

Alexandra Rodriguez BSAPK ’19

A UF MPH student in the College of Public Health & Health Professions and Research Assistant for the Center for Arts in Medicine

What personal characteristics must a person have to succeed in a role like yours? I have learned through my experience with research that when you are passionate about your work, the day-to-day challenges do not wear you down, but instead, they drive you to innovate and push what you had initially imagined to a greater scale.

Who do you look up to most in your profession? In the field of arts in public health, I feel beyond fortunate to get to work at UF with Dr. Jill Sonke, one of the leaders in the field. At UF, she is the research director in the Center for Arts in Medicine, and as such, she is the co-director of the EpiArts Lab, a National Endowment for the Arts research lab at UF, and the overall director for the center's interdisciplinary lab. Getting to observe her work as a senior advisor to the CDC vaccine confidence and demand team on the COVID-19 vaccine confidence task force, as well as her expertise in the field of research, has been an opportunity I have not taken for granted.

Why did you decide to come to HHP? What drew me to study at HHP was not only its initiative to continuously strive for more, but also its strong sense of community. From orientation alone, I could sense the college's investment in its students, and becoming a student myself only reaffirmed those initial impressions.

Where do you go for inspiration? For inspiration, I always look to my dad — a creative and innovative problem solver. Growing up, my dad would always challenge me to think bigger and to never be limited by what is current practice. While a pioneer in business, and not research, all of his philosophies continue to translate. While my dad passed recently, his bold, creative mentality and relentless drive continue to inspire me daily.

What’s next? In the fall, I will begin a Ph.D. with research focused on the interdisciplinary field of arts in public health. With that, I look forward to further engaging the field and contributing to its research!

Read the full profile: go.ufl.edu/arodriguez Submit your own profile: go.ufl.edu/HHPprofile H E A LTH & H U M A N P E R F O R M A N C E | S U M M E R 2 0 2 2

student spotlight “The resources, opportunities and support provided at HHP allowed me to explore my interests and to truly grow academically and professionally.”

Tomi Adesogan

Alex Caspary

BS Health Education & Behavior, 2022

BS Applied Physiology & Kinesiology, 2022

Where are you from? Born in Aberystwyth, Wales, grew up in Gainesville, Florida

Where are you from? Tallahassee, Florida

Why did you choose HHP? I wanted a smaller school where I could build relationships with my professors and have intentional conversations with my peers. I also admired the array of courses offered, many of which focus on niche topics within the majors, and this has allowed me to explore my interests. In the future, I plan to... become a health educator in the field of maternal and child health and work with marginalized and underserved populations. I plan to use the knowledge and skills learned at HHP to empower communities by providing them with the tools they need to achieve the best health outcomes.

“HHP offers an inclusive environment that welcomes all students regardless of where they come from. The college always puts students first.”

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What advice would you give your freshman self? Don’t stress about the future and the ‘what if’ scenarios. Focus on the situations at hand, and take it one day at a time. I would stress involvement and to have passion for the things that you do. What is your favorite thing about UF? The ability to meet so many people from all over the world and establish long term connections. Where is your favorite place to study? My favorite place is Newell Hall because it is run by students, and the study pods are a great place to study in a comfortable way. In the future, I plan to... open a physical therapy clinic that helps patients of all cultures.

HHP STUDENTS CHANGE THE FUTURE

“HHP has given me the chance to study my passions in an environment that promotes academic success and collaboration among students and professors.”

“The knowledge that I gained at HHP and in my program will enable me to be successful in the industry in the future, and the preparation I received here is unparalleled.”

Victoria Lanning

Stephanie Way

BS Tourism, Event & Recreation Management, 2022

BS Sport Management, 2021

Where were you born? St. Petersburg, Florida What is your favorite Gator tradition? Watching the bats fly at sunset with friends and family. I definitely consider it to be an experience exclusive to UF, and it’s something I look forward to seeing every semester. What was your favorite class at HHP? Theme Park and Attraction Management. I’ve been interested in the industry for as long as I can remember, and I was so happy to have the chance to explore my interest in an academic environment and delve deeper into the industry. In the future, I plan to… earn a management position within the Walt Disney Company and their theme parks. I intend to use what I have learned during my time in HHP to make creative and positive differences in my field as a whole.

Where are you from? Hartford, Connecticut Why should a prospective student choose HHP? The people. From fellow students to professors to the team of academic advisors that was there every step of the way, there’s truly a sense of community. Professors will go out of their way to prepare you for the future and equip you with the knowledge and experience you need to be successful. Where is your favorite place to study? There is a picnic table near the stairs on the side of the Florida Gym. It was always quiet, and it was a nice opportunity to get out of the hustle and bustle and get some work done while still enjoying the fresh air. In the future, I plan to… pursue a career in the sport industry. It’s my newfound dream and passion to work in the professional golf industry, which is something I never envisioned for myself prior to being here at HHP. H E A LTH & H U M A N P E R F O R M A N C E | S U M M E R 2 0 2 2

STUDENTS & PROGRAMS No. of degree programs & certificates

ENROLLMENT: 2,802

Undergraduate internship nearly 100% participation

On-campus

68%

Online

Graduate & professional school acceptance rate

Improving Health Outcomes Promoting Healthy Living Health Education & Behavior

study-abroad 5 Global programs

Ph.D. STUDENT

4.5 years

GRADUATION RATE

Commitment to Inclusion Building a Community of Belonging Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access

ALUMNI & GIVING donations in 2020-2021 $2.2M total

982 donors 761 alumni donors

20k

ALUMNI

WORLDWIDE

94% of gifts <$1,000

57 Active endowments @ $30,000+ 32

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Visionary Travel Research and Insights Enriching Lives Tourism, Hospitality & Event Management

HHP IMPACT REPORT CORE INITIATIVES

FACULTY & RESEARCH Active research funding

•••• $8,000,000 •••• Active research awards

•••• 96 ••••

20 new faculty ADDED in 3 YEARS

Research papers published

•••• 164 ••••

A Focus on Movement Enhancing Physical Performance Applied Physiology & Kinesiology

in the news

selected faculty honors 20 Fellowships; highlights include...

Improving Society Expanding the Field of Play Sport Management

• Academy of Leisure Sciences • Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics • American College of Sports Medicine • American Psychological Association • American Psychological Society • National Academy of Kinesiology • North American Society for Sport Management

READ MORE: hhp.ufl.edu/impact H E A LTH & H U M A N P E R F O R M A N C E | S U M M E R 2 0 2 2

class notes Former PGA touring pro Wally Armstrong, BSPE ’68, MPH ’69, and bestselling author and business executive Ken Blanchard’s book, “The Mulligan,” was released as a movie by the same name in select theaters. The movie, inspired by the book, is a parable about second chances and the opportunity to make something good out of a bad situation. Armstrong has shared his innovative golf techniques throughout the world, authoring books, starring in instructional videos, inventing tools and creating games focused on golf. He’s also the master visionary and creative coach for the Payne Stewart Kids Golf Foundation (paynestewart.org) where he introduces children, age 3–8, to the game of golf through unconventional places. >> Learn more at themulliganmovie.com

1980’s

2010’s

Benny Vaughn, BSHSE ’85, was featured in the launch of “Outside the Room,” a podcast for the massage therapy and esthetician industry. Vaughn is known as a trailblazer in the industry.

<< Pascale Belony, BSHE ’15, BSN ’18, represented Haiti and The Gator Nation at the Miss Universe pageant held in December in Israel. Pascale is an advocate for women’s health and access to quality education.

Todd Shealy, BSESS ’88, was named director of football operations at Western Carolina University

1990’s

Kevin Vincent, MD ’03, Ph.D. ’99, was named the founding chair of the new Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the UF College of Medicine. The department is the first time in 16 years a new clinical department has been formed. In addition, Heather Vincent, Ph.D. ’99, is an associate professor in the newly formed department.

2000’s

Billy Horschel, BSSPM ’09, won the 2021 BMW PGA Championship, becoming only the second American to win. Abby Wambach, HHP ’98-’01, is hosting a new ESPN+ show called “Abby’s Places” where she aims to show the world why “soccer is love.”

Emily Austin BSR ’15, launched the business Asulon Collective (asuloncollective.com) focused on cultivating connections through craft coffee. In addition, Austin launched the podcast, “Micro Moments,” available on Apple and other platforms. Michelle King, Ph.D. '15, associate principal scientist at the Gatorade Sports Science Institute, was featured in a promotion for the development of the new Gatorade Gx Sweat Patch.

HAVE NEWS TO SHARE? HHP is always looking for news to share in future editions and on social media. Submit your news at hhp.ufl.edu/communications

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HHP ALUMNI MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Ruth H. Alexander, Ed.D., the founder of the women’s intercollegiate athletic program at UF in 1972, died aged 83 in Gainesville. Under Dr. Alexander’s leadership, competitive sports for women at the university advanced from the intramural and club sports level to varsity status, later to achieve great recognition and prominence along with men’s programs.

DEATHS FACULTY and STAFF Ruth Alexander, Ed.D., Gainesville, FL, Department of Exercise and Sport Sciences, April 20, 2021 at 83 Shirley Smith Davis, Gainesville, Fl., Dean’s Office, February 26, 2022 at 88 ALUMNI and FRIENDS Edward Hill Brannon Jr., BSJ ’54, Marietta, Ga., January 9, 2021 at 90

>> Read more at go.ufl.edu/ruth

Jane Edmonds, MPE ’58, Atlantic Beach, Fl., January 4, 2022 at 87 Elmore Parrish (Perry) Sones Jr., BSR ’70, Winter Haven, Fl, August 31, 2021 Mariel White, BSSPM ’21, Ponte Vedra, Fl, December 5, 2021 at 23 Frank A. Orlando, BSPE ’57 JD ’62, Hollywood, Fl, May 8, 2021 at 88

DEGREE DESIGNATIONS

Mariel White — Despite a terminal diagnosis, Mariel White kept striving toward her dream of earning her degree from UF. Through unwavering determination, she achieved this goal and was presented with her diploma, a Bachelor of Science in Sport Management, just days before she died. At the commencement ceremony in December, the Gator Nation celebrated Mariel's strength and courage as her brother and service dog walked the stage in her honor. >> Read more and watch the emotion-filled tribute at go.ufl.edu/mariel

BACHELORS BSAPK, applied physiology and kinesiology BSESS, exercise and sport science BSHE, health education BSN, nursing BSR, recreation BSPE, physical education, health and recreation BSSPM, sport management BSTHEM, tourism, hospitality and event management For a more detailed list of current degrees, visit catalog.ufl.edu

MASTERS MSAPK, applied physiology and kinesiology MSHEB, health education and behavior MSESS, exercise and sport science MSSPM, sport management MSTHM, tourism and hospitality management DOCTORAL DAT, doctor of athletic training JD, law Ph.D., doctorate

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P.O. Box 118200 Gainesville, FL 32611-8200

gators

GIVE a row. urth year in fo e th r fo s l to. scholarship ’re gratefu e 0 0 W 1 . n ts a n e th d more ridian ing stu le to award neration Flo way deserv e a g rn th r tu u to fo ed HHP was ab e a kson Endow year we hav ssia Pletcher, BSR ’83, c y a r J e o v J e e r, tl e it v Howe above). Big Ed L ing Meli d the new “ ts (pictured nors, includ e n o h re d s li a r b p u r o ta e f s h o e all ory of ounty who und” in mem F ip from Polk C h rs la o ate Sch Undergradu To make a donation or learn more about opportunities to give, contact Lesley Watt: lthurston@ufl.edu | 352.294.1650